Method and apparatus for treating water in beverage and ice machines

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for treating water in beverage and ice machines consisting of the vigorous agitation of the liquid by a double opposed vortex nozzle and the passing of a liquid through a magnetic field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of patent applicationSer. No. 726,429 filed Apr. 24, 1985 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,606 andU.S. patent application Ser. No. 018,049 filed Feb. 24, 1987 now U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,764,283.

The present invention relates to methods and devices for reducing theagglomeration of molecules in a fluid as applied to beverage and icemachines. More particularly, the present invention relates to methodsand devices for reducing agglomeration for use in beverage and icemachines.

The individual molecules which make up liquids, as well as all othersubstances, vary greatly in their relative size, complexity andproperties. Individual molecules are capable of being "polar", whichmeans they can carry positive and negative charges at different areaswithin the molecule. This polar propensity varies greatly from substanceto substance and has a significant effect on the overall properties ofthe substance. In water and other liquids, the polarity of theindividual molecules is believed to cause groupings of water molecules("agglomeration") to form in units larger than individual molecules.Other theories for this phenomenon, explained more fully inCo-Applicant's earlier patent regarding this subject (U.S. Pat. No.4,261,521, herein incorporated by reference), are that water has anetwork of joined polyhedral cages formed of H-bonded molecules, andcontaining within their cavities entrapped, but unbound, watermolecules. Also, it has been theorized that water forms "flickeringclusters" of molecules, which constantly change in size and structure.

Whatever the explanation for this phenomenon, it is known that vigorousagitation of liquids, particularly water, will cause a reduction in theagglomeration of the liquid and change its normal properties. Further,Applicants have noticed the same changes for all fluids, whether they bea gas, a liquid, or a solid suspended in a gas or liquid. Some of thechanges in the physical properties of liquids, particularly water, arenoted in Co-Applicant's prior '521 patent. It is believed that reductionof molecular agglomeration creates a relatively greater number of freedindividual liquid molecules available to penetrate openings of pores incells or plasma membranes and increases the solubility of liquids.Oxidation of substances is also increased. Further, it is known in theart that similar effects can be achieved by passing a fluid through amagnetic field. Changes in the pH, solubility and "hardness" of waterhave been noted when the fluid is magnetically affected.

Sewage is also comprised substantially of water. The treatment of sewagehas attracted a variety of prior art methods and devices. One manner oftreating sewage known in the art is to use ozone as an oxidizing agentin the treatment. Ozone has several advantages over chlorine (thetraditional gas used for treating sewage) which make ozone an effectivesubstitute. It is known that ozone kills a wider variety of bacteria andviruses in sewage than does chlorine, that ozone is generally safer tohandle, that ozone is more effective at eliminating metals and chemicalsin the sewage and that ozone removes and sterilizes sludge from sewageat a higher rate than chlorine. However, a drawback to the use of ozonehas been the relatively slow reaction time and absorption rate whensewage is treated. Commercially available ozone generators suitable forsewage treatment are manufactured by Schmidding-Werke, in West Germany,among others.

Prior art of which Applicant is aware, although varying widely in itsstructure and use, are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,265,746 (issued to Zimmerman, etal.), 4,065,386 (issued to Rigby), 4,050,426 (issued to Sanderson),3,511,776 (issued to Avampato), 3,228,878 (issued to Moody), 2,825,464(issued to Mack).

The present invention combines the agitation means of Co-Applicant'sprior patent with a means for magnetically affecting the fluid in thetreatment of pure water and in the treatment of water for beverage andice machines. Further, it is contemplated that the design of Applicants'invention could be easily modified to detoxify chemical waste.Therefore, it is an object f the present invention to achieve a greatereffect on the properties of fluids through reduction in agglomerationthan that achieved by Co-Applicant's prior patent. Further, it is anobject of the present invention to change the physical properties ofrelatively pure water. Further it is an object of the present inventionto treat sewage. Further, it is an object of the present invention totreat water used in beverage and ice machines. Further is an object ofthe present invention to aid the treatment of sewage with an ozone basedgas. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for treating water in beverage and ice machines comprising thesteps of pumping the water through a first vortex nozzle, simultaneouslypumping through a second vortex nozzle, agitating the water by sprayingthe water exiting the first vortex nozzle against the water exiting thesecond vortex nozzle, simultaneously magnetically affecting the water bya magnetic affecting means mounted in close proximity to the nozzles.

An apparatus for treating water in beverage and ice machines comprisingmeans for pumping water through a beverage machine, said pumping meansconnected to a means for agitating said water, a magnetic affectingmeans mounted in close proximity to said agitating means formagnetically affecting the water as it is pumped through said agitatingmeans, said agitating means further comprised of an inlet, a vortexapparatus connected with said inlet, and an outlet connected to saidvortex apparatus, said inlet and said outlet connected to said pumpingmeans, said vortex apparatus comprised of vortex nozzles mounted withinmeans defining a chamber in opposed relationship to each other, and saidnozzles oriented so as to direct the water from one nozzle against thewater from another nozzle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment as seen fromlines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment as seen fromlines 4--4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a modification of Co-Applicant's prior patent.The '521 patent discusses the structure and operation of the agitationmeans used in the present invention. The opposed vortex nozzleconfiguration is effective for reducing agglomeration to a certainextent, but Applicants have found that the additional of a magneticaffecting means has great effects on the properties of water and that amodified opposed vortex nozzle configuration can have applications inthe treatment of sewage with ozone or the detoxification of chemicalwaste.

FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment as it is constructed in a closed-loopsystem for treating water. A pump 10 circulates the water throughconnecting means 12 to an agglomerate reducing means 14. After thereduction in agglomeration, the water is collected in a collecting means16 and returns to the pump 10 by other connecting means 12.

The agglomerate reducing means 14 of the first embodiment is shown inmore detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The agglomerate reducing means 14 iscomprised chiefly of two components, namely, a magnetic affecting means20 and an agitating means 22. The magnetic affecting means 20 may becomprised of any magnet known in the art and may be attached to theagitation means 22 by any means known in the art, just so that themagnetic affecting means 20 is held in relatively close relation to thewater at some point. Preferably, the hysteresis of the magnetic field isaligned with the flow of fluid, and that the magnetic affecting means 20is placed at the agitating means 22. The present embodiment uses regularbar magnets attached to the agitating means 22 by brackets or tape (notshown) and magnetically affects the water simultaneous with theagitation.

The agitating means 22 is shown more clearly in FIG. 3. The agitatingmeans 22 is identical to the one shown in Co-Applicant's prior parent,except that the water flows into the agitating means 22 from a singleinlet 24 into a chamber 26. Water collects in the chamber 26 and isseparated into two streams as it flows into the two vortex entrances 28.Once inside the opposed vortex apparatus 30, the water is acceleratedthrough a spiral passageway (not shown) and exits the vortex nozzles 32at a high rate of speed and is forced against an opposing stream ofwater exiting the other vortex nozzle 32. Other details on the agitatingmeans 22 are well known in the art and disclosed fully in Co-Applicant'sprior patent. Of course, design modifications involving more than twonozzles could easily be made. After agitation, the water exits theagitation means 22 through an exit 34. The magnetic affecting means 20is shown in shadow lines.

Although not completely explained, it is clear that the addition of themagnetic affecting means 20 to the agglomerate reducing means 14 hassurprising effects on the properties of pure water beyond that achievedby co-Applicant's prior patent. Using pure water which registered lessthan 0.1 (Si) mg/L in a direct aspiration flame atomic absorption methodtest using Perkin-Elmer model 5,000 unit, versus a controlled sample ofdeionized water, it was found that samples of the water treated byApplicants' invention had a boiling point as much as 5° C. lower thanthat of deionized water. Further, significant differences in surfacetension, diffusion and transportation rate and clearing rate in butanolwere found. Further, the treated water appears to retain its differingproperties for several weeks.

The differences in diffusion and transportation rates have been found tomake the treated water useful as a carrier in the manufacture ofpharmaceuticals. Further, use in chemical separation processes and inchemical refining appears likely.

When regular tap water is treated by the invention of the firstembodiment, the reduction in agglomeration apparently releases suspendedsilicates, as a great settling out of solids has been noted byApplicants. Thus, the invention is a compact and efficient device forsoftening water and removing minerals. The silicates collect in thecollecting means 16 and can be periodically removed.

In particular, Applicants have found that smaller versions of theinvention placed within beverage or ice machines removes suspendedsilicates, which are often a cause of malfunction of beverage or icemachines when they clog internal openings. By placing the presentinvention between the water holding tank and the heating or dispensingelement of beverage or ice machines, the silicates can be removed beforethe water is pumped through the portions of the machine which are proneto clogging. In particular, in areas where there is a great deal of limein tap water, the invention causes a breakdown of CaCO₃ to form CaCO₂and CO₂, which will not form a scale on heat exchangers or other partsof the machines.

The principle of reduction of agglomeration has found a second use bythe Applicants in the treatment of sewage. As stated, ozone is a commonsubstitute for chlorine gas in the treatment of sewage. However, the gasused to treat sewage is not pure ozone, but a mixture of ozone, nitrogenand rare metal gases.

Applicants have found that the reduction in agglomeration of the liquidswhich comprise sewage allows treatment by ozone gas to be greatlyspeeded up. The traditional method of treating sewage with ozone gas isto bubble the gas through the sewage to allow it to be absorbed into theliquid. This contact time is normally thirty minutes in order to achievefull absorption and treatment by the ozone. However, the presentinvention allows the sewage to be treated instantly by ozone. In fact,Applicants have found that treatment of sewage by the invention of thesecond embodiment eliminates the need for storage tanks, which are usedto collect sewage and hold it until the treatment process is complete.

This improved treatment of sewage is achieved by the device shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. As stated, the second embodiment involves a modificationof the first embodiment in which one of the vortex nozzles 32 andopposed vortex apparatus 30 is identical to those found in the firstembodiment. Sewage is passed through this liquid vortex nozzle 32. Asshown in FIG. 4, it is necessitated that the chamber 26 be eliminated,and the agitation means 22 is divided into separate inlet lines, with asewage inlet line 36 and an ozone inlet line 38. The ozone inlet line 38allows direct passage of the ozone gas mixture to a gas vortex apparatus40. The gas vortex apparatus 40 is in all respects identical to theliquid vortex apparatus 30 except that the scale is reduced, for reasonsto be discussed hereafter. Likewise, the gas vortex nozzle 42 is similarin structure to the liquid vortex nozzle 32, except that it is on areduced scale. The reasons for the difference in scale between theliquid vortex apparatus 30 and gas vortex apparatus 40 stem from thedifferences in flow capabilities between the liquid and gas. Because theliquid and gas are accelerated so rapidly in the respective vortexapparatus, it is necessary that the opposed apparatuses 30 and 40balance each other. In other words, if the sewage exited nozzle 32 withmore kinetic energy than the ozone gas exited gas vortex nozzle 42, thesewage would overpower the exiting gas and the collision between the gasand the liquid would occur at the gas vortex nozzle 42 exit. Thus, it isrequired that Applicants' invention be designed so that the kineticenergies of the sewage and ozone, when exiting their respective nozzles,are equal so that the collision between the two substances takes placeat a point approximately halfway between the liquid vortex nozzle 32 andgas vortex nozzle 42 exits. This balancing can be done by calculationswell known in the art, given the diameters of the inlet pipes 36 and 38and the pressures at which the sewage and gas are pumped to theagitating means 22. Again, an exit 34 collects the sewage and ozone gasto carry it away.

A side view of the agglomerate reducing means 14 of the secondembodiment is shown in FIG. 5, with the agitating means 22 beingsituated between magnetic affecting means 20. In this side view, thesewage inlet 36 is shown, and the ozone gas inlet 38 is not shown.Again, the magnetic affecting means 20 can be attached to the agitatingmeans 22 by any means known in the art, and can be comprised of barmagnets, electro-magnets, or other magnetic affecting means 20.

It is believed that the great reduction in the time required for theozone to be absorbed into and treat the sewage is brought about by thereduction in agglomeration in the sewage, and possibly the ozone gas,also. As the sewage stream collides with the ozone gas stream,agglomeration in the various liquids making up sewage is reduced, andthe greater number of freed individual molecules can more rapidlypenetrate cell openings or pores in bacteria or viruses in the sewage,as well as other substances. Thus, the principle of the secondembodiment has applications in other areas, such as the detoxificationof chemical waste. The waste is pumped through one nozzle and theoxidizing or detoxifying substance is pumped through the other.

Although the invention has been described in the proceeding embodiments,numerous changes and variations are intended to fall within the scope ofthe present invention. The limitations of the scope of the invention arenot intended to be defined by the description of the preferredembodiment, but rather by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method for treating water in beverage and ice machinescomprising the steps of:pumping the water through a first vortex nozzle;simultaneously pumping water through a second vortex nozzle; agitatingthe water by spraying the water exiting the first vortex nozzle againstthe water exiting the second vortex nozzle; simultaneously magneticallyaffecting the water by a magnetic affecting means mounted in closeproximity to the nozzles.
 2. An apparatus for treating water in beveragemachines comprising:means for pumping water through a beverage machine;said pumping means connected to a means for agitating said water; amagnetic affecting means mounted in close proximity to said agitatingmeans for magnetically affecting the water as it is pumped through saidagitating means; said agitating means further comprised of an inlet, avortex apparatus connected with said inlet, and an outlet connected tosaid vortex apparatus; said inlet and said outlet connected to saidpumping means; said vortex apparatus comprised of vortex nozzles mountedwithin means defining a chamber in opposed relationship to each other;and said nozzles oriented so as to direct the water from one nozzleagainst the water from another nozzle.
 3. Any apparatus for treatingwater in ice machines comprising:means for pumping water through an icemachine; said pumping means connected to a means for agitating saidwater; a magnetic affecting means mounted in close proximity to saidagitating means for magnetically affecting the water as it is pumpedthrough said agitating means; said agitating means further comprised ofan inlet, a vortex apparatus connected with said inlet, and an outletconnected to said vortex apparatus; said inlet and said outlet connectedto said pumping means; said vortex apparatus comprised of vortex nozzlesmounted within means defining a chamber in opposed relationship to eachother; and said nozzles oriented so as to direct water from nozzleagainst the water from another nozzle.